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(The following Letter to the Editor appeared in the New Castle Courier-Times. Their website can be found at www.thecouriertimes.com.)
Posted July 29, 2002
A Mayberry thanks to everyone who made it work
More than a week after the start of our "Mayberry in the Midwest" events filled weekend, the applause is still being heard. Either through heartfelt letters from visitors, thankful attendees walking into our office, numerous phone calls or a number of emails expressing the same thing..."Mayberry In the Midwest" was not only fun, but it was a shining example of community spirit.
One year ago, Curt Bell, a local teacher who happened to be an avid fan of "The Andy Griffith Show," stopped into the Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) to present an idea. As the new Director and a new citizen of New Castle, I was pleasantly surprised that a local citizen felt comfortable enough to present his idea to a Visitors Bureau who very much welcomed and still welcomes such ideas. After some deliberation and another presentation to our CVB Board and Tourism Commission, the Henry County CVB decided to take on the task of bringing a never before seen nor done event to the Midwest, let alone New Castle. Could a CVB of our size (an office of two full-time employees) and a small but very active organizing committee pull off something so daunting? The answer was, "We think we can, and therefore we will." No, we had never done anything of this magnitude. No, I didn't know everything there was to know about "The Andy Griffith Show Re-run Watchers Club" (TAGSRWC) of which Curt and many others are members of, but I did know one thing. Henry County and New Castle had welcomed me with open arms, and if all we supplied was that same hospitality, we would come out on top.
One year and one week later, we have reached the end of our extensively organized Mayberry event. The applause will soon die out. But I know everyone will never forget how a community our size banded together (on a rainy, then sunny, then very sticky two days) and pulled off something that similar event planners around the country are still talking about with smiles and huge "thumbs way up" kudos. These congratulations are for the city and citizens of New Castle and Henry County. They are also for Curt Bell, our CVB Board and Tourism Commissioners, the Henry County United Fund, the Art Association of Henry County, numerous volunteers, all our wonderful sponsors and of course our little office of CVB workers who "thought they could and did." Thank you to Tami Rust, the CVB Office Coordinator, for all her help and belief in a new director and a new citizen of a city that now knows it CAN do anything as long as we work together!
On a personal note, I want to thank anyone I may have left out of this letter or any of the thank you ads. You know who you are and please know you were a valued part in our amazingly organized and worked event. Thank you my fellow "Mayberry in the Midwest" organizing committee members: Tami Rust, Kenny Cox, James Thurston, Mark Griffith and Curt Bell for all your hard work. WE DID IT!
CHRISTINE MALLETTE
Director of Tourism and Marketing
Director of "Mayberry In the Midwest"
Henry County Convention and Visitors Bureau
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